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OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST PEORIA, ILLINOIS TUESDAY JULY 10, 2007 - 7:00 P.M. WEST PEORIA CITY HALL 2506 W. ROHMANN AVENUE, WEST PEORIA, IL
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of West Peoria, Illinois was held at the West Peoria City Hall on July 10, 2007.
1. CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Jim Dillon.
3. ROLL CALL The following members were present: Alderman Dohm, Alderman Ganson, Alderman Meismer, Alderman Roberts, Alderwoman Thomas, and Alderman Venzon. Also present: Mayor James Dillon, Attorney Bill Connor, City Administrator John Carlson, City Clerk Carole Stephens. Absent: Alderman Dwyer, Alderman Mathewson arrived at 7:09 p.m.
4. ADDITIONS AND OR DELETIONS FROM AGENDA None
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES for the June 26th , 2007 City Council Meeting was made by Alderman Dohm and seconded by Alderman Alderman Ganson. ROLL CALL VOTE – Ayes – Dohm, Ganson, Meismer, Roberts, Thomas, Venzon - 6 Nays – 0 Absent - 2 Motion Carried
6. COMMUNITY POLICE REPORT Officer Chris Watkins informed every one about the Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 7, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Franciscan Park. There will be a Bicycle Rodeo, Drawings for 6 Bikes, Registration of Bicycles for children who have not registered their bicycle. There will also be a Fingerprinting Booth for the children. Hot Dogs and Soda will also be available for everyone. Always keep your doors locked and if you have an alarm keep it activated. Keep your car doors locked even if you keep your car in garage. Officer Watkins mentioned that the curfew is 11 p.m. from Sunday until Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday. Bike Patrol is out randomly three times a week . The Bicycle Patrol helps defer problems that could occur if not for them patrolling the areas randomly.
7. MAYOR’S REPORT John Carlson, The Lighting District and I met with Senator Koehler at City Hall in reference to the Lighting District’s financial situation because of the increase in the Ameren Bills. If the rates continue at the rate they are going, the Lighting District will be bankrupt. The bill for lighting went from $900 - $1,100 monthly to $2,600 monthly. Even with a referendum they cannot tax enough to keep the lights on. We are working with Senator Koehler’s Office to see what can be done, or see if the City should to take over the Lighting District. There is a need to keep the street lights on. The Lighting District did buy the poles for the future lighting project for Sterling Avenue, but as of now they do not have the funds to continue the project.. We will continue to work with Senator Koehler’s Office. We choose to have Senator Koehler’s Office to see if there are any funds. There is a house on Stever Avenue, that has been abandoned for quite a while it is full of mold, running water, and the stairwell has collapsed. The City has a court order so we can board it immediately. We are going to proceed with the demolition if the judge will allow us to tear the house down. It is very dangerous for the neighbors, this will be coming to the council in the near future. It was a very successful 4th of July parade.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT Residents of West Peoria complained about the vacant house in their neighborhood, the City was aware of this property. Dan Sullivan the City Code Officer of West Peoria is trying to track down the Mortgage Company that owns this house. Arrangements for getting rid of the weeds and garbage will be processed. The pool in the yard is full of stagnant water and arrangement will be made to pump the water out of the pool. Mayor Dillon said that West Peoria will try to contact the owners or the mortgage before going on the property.
9. APPROVAL OF PAYMENT TO THOMAS N. JACOB AND ASSOCIATES, LTD. FOR TIF THE REMAINING BALANCE IN THE OF AMOUNT OF $10,904.69 (Line Item No. 15-00-500) . Motion to approve payment to Thomas N. Jacob and Associates, Ltd. for TIF remaining balance in the amount of $10,904.69 was made by Alderman Mathewson and seconded Alderman Ganson Discussion: Alderman Mathewson said on the billing account this is the second payment for the work that was done to establish the TIF District. ROLL CALL Yeas – Mathewson, Ganson, Dohm, Meismer, Roberts, Thomas, Venzon - 7 Nays - 0 Absent – 1 Motion Carried
10. U. OF I. EXTENSION ANALYSIS RESULTS - DISCUSSION Three Priority Ideas to work on: 1) Crime a) Bike Patrol b) Neighbor Watch, up and running on Dixon and Manor Parkway c ) Neighborhood Flyer to all residents with information on currents events that are taking place in West Peoria. Asking them to notify the Sheriff’s Department on anything that may look suspicious no matter how trivial they may think it is. There will also be some positive information in the Flyer. It was suggested to look into a grant for the expense of the mailing. d) 6 to 8 block area target area,. 1. clean up garbage, and weed removal 2. collaborate with the beautification committee 3. get block captains e) review and analyze the last 3 months of code violations 2) Infrastructure -Transportation Sterling
Hill needs a lot of work Sidewalks Econ- Dev. Mical and Vista Volunteer Krystiana will research for grants 3) Economic Development TIF Projects & Procedures Programs Something visible for community
11. PUBLIC COMMENT None
12. OTHER BUSINESS – DISCUSSION ONLY a) Meeting on July 31, 2007, 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. b) Alderman John Venzon suggested that the Building Committee start meeting again to get going on this project.
13. COMMITTEE REPORTS A. FINANCE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN MATHEWSON – CHAIR The Committee met Monday July 2nd, at City Hall. The committee spent a lot of time with TIF and what we are going to do. We will present it to the committee at the July 31st, meeting. The committee is still working on the Personnel Manual and will present it to the council for review in the next couple of months. We talked about the Flyer that Mical McFarland, Economic Developer of West Peoria put together listing all the business in West Peoria to be put in the West Peoria Residents Association Newsletter. The Finance Committee approved the funds to have it printed and to be stuffed in the News Letter. We discussed the Audit it is scheduled for September. Our next meeting will be Monday, August 6th , at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
B. LAND USE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN DOHM – CHAIR The Land Use Committee has not met since the last City Council Meeting, our next meeting is July 18th , 2007 at 6:30 at City Hall.
C. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN DWYER – CHAIR The Public Safety Committee met on July 1st , at 7:00 p.m.. The committee went over the Burning Ordinance. The Committee has questions on Interfacing with the West Peoria Fire District. Our next meeting is Monday, August 6th , 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.
D. TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN VENZON We have not met since the last City Council Meeting our next meeting will be July 12th, 2007 at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall. Koenig Body and Equipment will be using the new city truck for one of their shows at the Civic Center.
14. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 15. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn this meeting was made by Alderman Roberts and seconded by Alderman Meismer. Motion carried unanimously by voice. Meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m. Carole Stephens, City Clerk |
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